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Star-Stitch Auto Scarf and Belt (1920): vintage crochet pattern
A wide motoring scarf in worsted-weight knitting yarn worked in star stitch alternating with rows of sc, 60 inches long with 3-inch contrast ends, plus a matching 44-inch star-stitch belt with buttonholes. Originally published as "Auto Scarf" in Lion Yarn Book: Describing Latest Creations in Worsted Work by The Lion Yarn Co. in 1920, it is now in.
By the crochetpatterns.io editorial team · Updated · Editorial policy · pattern testing in progress
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Skill level | Intermediate |
| Yarn weight | Medium (#4) |
| Yardage | the book gives 5 hanks of Lion Brand Knitting Yarn (its own advertisement page lists Lion knitting worsted in 4 oz hanks); yardage is not stated. (as printed; yardage not given) |
| Hook | 5 mm |
| Gauge | No stitch gauge printed. Printed checks: scarf 20 in (51 cm) wide and 60 in (152 cm) long before the ends; belt 2½ in (6.5 cm) wide. |
| Finished size | Scarf 20 in (51 cm) wide (foundation chain) by 66 in (168 cm) long including contrast ends; belt 2½ in (6.5 cm) wide by 44 in (112 cm) long. |
| Time | about 3 hours |
Materials
- Medium (CYC #4) wool yarn — the original was Lion Brand Knitting Yarn, 5 hanks, plus a contrasting color for the ends (quantity not printed)
- Crochet hook (original: No. 3 or No. 4)
- Tapestry needle
- Hook: Start with 5 mm (US H-8) — approximate; the chain sets the width (20 in / 51 cm), so check the length against the printed 60 in (152 cm) (no stitch gauge is printed)
Yarn Kit & Substitution Options
This pattern calls for 350 yards of weight #4 yarn. Select a suggested yarn to see required skeins and estimated cost:
Caron Simply Soft · 100% Acrylic
315 yds per skein · High-yield yardage, silky no-scratch texture
2 skeins required
approx. $$10.98 total
Abbreviations (US terms)
- chain
- single crochet
- skip
- stitch
- stitches
- repeat
- row
- yarn over
- loop
Notes before you start
- Source: "Auto Scarf", Lion Yarn Book: Describing Latest Creations in Worsted Work, The Lion Yarn Co., 1920. Public domain in the USA.
- As printed — materials: 5 Hanks LION BRAND Knitting Yarn; 1 Crochet Hook, No. 3 or No. 4.. Gauge: Not given.
- Modernisation note: The book prints no crochet lesson and no definitions of its basic stitches; it defines only star stitch (with the Auto Scarf) and a picot edge (with the Filet and Knitted Sweater). Its s. c. and d. c. are read as American terms, which are the same as modern US sc and dc, for this reason: the filet designs build open meshes out of d. c. worked on a chain ("Ch. 94 sts. and work 92 d. c. on ch.", then "46M"). Only a tall stitch (modern US dc) forms filet meshes; a British-style "double crochet" (= US sc) could not. The book is an American (New York) publication. So no stitch changes height; s. c. = sc, d. c. = dc, ch. = ch, slip st. = sl st.
- Modernisation note: Period abbreviations and wording modernised: s. c., d. c., ch., st./sts. written as sc, dc, ch, st/sts; M and B written as mesh and block; "skip" as sk; "yarn over" as yo; "fasten wool on" and "fasten yarn at" as join yarn; "fasten back in" as sl st in; "break off" as fasten off; "crochet needle" as hook; "repeat from star" as rep from *; "sts." after a chain count dropped ("Ch. 94 sts." written as "Ch 94"); ordinal row names ("Second Row") written as Row 2 (or Rnd 2 when worked in the round).
- Modernisation note: Long printed paragraphs split into one row, round or step per line; stitch order and counts unchanged. Section headings added for navigation.
- Modernisation note: Hook numbers (No. 1–5, bone or amber) are 1920 makers' numbers; the book prints no diameters, so no exact metric size can be read from it. The suggested modern hook is an approximate starting point for the yarn weight, to be adjusted to the printed measurements.
- Modernisation note: No stitch gauge is printed anywhere in the book; work a swatch and match the printed measurements (given in the modern gauge line) before starting.
- Modernisation note: Lion Brand yarns of 1920 have no exact modern equivalent. The modern CYC weights are approximations only: Lion Brand Shetland Floss (a soft, lofty yarn) as fine (CYC #2); Lion Brand Knitting Yarn / Knitting Worsted as medium (CYC #4) — the book's own advertisement page lists Lion knitting worsted in "4 oz. hanks"; 3-fold (3-ply) Saxony as super fine (CYC #1); Pompadour Wool as fine (CYC #2); Lion Brand Crochet Wool (used doubled in the sacque) as fine (CYC #2), so the doubled strand works roughly as light (CYC #3). Yardage is never printed — the book gives skeins, hanks or balls only.
- Modernisation note: Star stitch is defined with this design and placed first, as it is needed for the scarf rows.
- Modernisation note: "Weave in ends" added.
- Modernisation note: Check: star-stitch Row 1 ends "Repeat from star" but no asterisk is printed; the * is placed before "Ch. 1, draw a loop through the eye", the start of the repeating part.
- Modernisation note: Check: the scarf directions say to repeat 2 rows (star row, sc row), while the star-stitch directions say to repeat 3 rows (Rows 1–3, where Row 3 is the star row worked over sc). Both are kept as printed; after the first star row, alternate Row 2 and Row 3.
- Modernisation note: Check: Row 1 stars close 6 loops and Row 3 stars close 5. Left as printed.
- Modernisation note: Check: the buttonhole method is not given.
- Modernisation note: Metric conversions added.
Row progress: 0 of 4 done (0%)
Star Stitch (as printed)
0 of 4 done- Row 1: Sk 1 ch and draw up a lp in each of the next 5 ch, yo and draw through the 6 lps on the hook. *Ch 1, draw a lp through the eye formed by the ch just made, draw a lp through the back of the last lp of the star just made, draw a lp through the same ch where the last lp of the previous star was made, draw a lp through each of the next 2 ch, yo and draw through the 6 lps on the hook; rep from * to end of row, ch 1, turn.Mark row complete
- Row 2: Sc in the top and in the eye of each star, making 2 sc to a star; ch 3, turn.Mark row complete
- Row 3: Draw a lp through the 1st and 2nd ch just made, and 1 in each of the first 2 sc, having 5 lps on the hook; yo and draw through all 5 lps; *ch 1, draw a lp through the eye formed by the ch just made, draw a lp through the back of the last lp of the star just made, draw a lp through each of the next 2 sc, yo and draw through the 5 lps on the hook; rep from * to end of row.Mark row complete
- Rep these 3 rows for the scarf.Mark row complete
Working on:
Row 1: Sk 1 ch and draw up a lp in each of the next 5 ch, yo and draw through the 6 lps on the hook. *Ch 1, draw a lp through the eye formed by the ch just made, draw a lp through the back of the last lp of the star just made, draw a lp through the same ch where the last lp of the previous star was made, draw a lp through each of the next 2 ch, yo and draw through the 6 lps on the hook; rep from * to end of row, ch 1, turn.
Continue this pattern
The rest of the Star-Stitch Auto Scarf and Belt (1920) pattern is in the Vintage Crochet Hats, Bags & Accessories
Still to come in the full pattern:
- Scarf
- Belt
- Finishing
Included with 202 patterns for $12 — $0.06 per pattern.
Errata
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the Auto Scarf pattern from?
It was published as "Auto Scarf" in Lion Yarn Book: Describing Latest Creations in Worsted Work by The Lion Yarn Co. in 1920. The publication is in the public domain in the United States; this version is transcribed and modernised by crochetpatterns.io.
What yarn or thread do I need for the Auto Scarf?
medium (worsted) (#4) yarn. Not printed — the book gives 5 hanks of Lion Brand Knitting Yarn (its own advertisement page lists Lion knitting worsted in 4 oz hanks); yardage is not stated.
What hook should I use?
Start with 5 mm (US H-8) — approximate; the chain sets the width (20 in / 51 cm), so check the length against the printed 60 in (152 cm) (no stitch gauge is printed) Gauge: No stitch gauge printed. Printed checks: scarf 20 in (51 cm) wide and 60 in (152 cm) long before the ends; belt 2½ in (6.5 cm) wide.
